Manning weekend sport preview - July 18,19

Logan Pocklington will be looking for a strong game this weekend when Wingham take on Old Bar.

WINGHAM Rugby League Club is looking forward to a big weekend.

On Saturday the Tigers host Old Bar in what will be a crucial game in Group Three Rugby League. Old Bar currently sits in third place, with Wingham two points behind in fourth.

This will also be the club's annual charity day. Two organisations, The Asthma Foundation and Camp Quality will benefit.

And tomorrow the football club will support one of their favourite sons with a benefit day for life member Graeme 'Dawby' Berriman, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.

This will start at 9am at Wingham Bowling Club.

In other Group Three games this weekend competition leaders Wauchope host Taree City, while Port City meets Macleay Valley at Port Macquarie and Forster-Tuncurry plays Port Macquarie.

Meanwhile Group Three secretary Barrie Smith has confirmed that Macleay first grade coach Willie Lockwood and under 18 coach Richard Roberts are now fully accredited and their sides will play for competition points this weekend. Neither received points for last week's matches against Forster-Tuncurry as both were unaccredited.

Manning Valley Rifle Club will host an inter-club day at the Koorainghat Range on Sunday.

Coffs Harbour's John Radford, who is just back from the world titles held in France where he shot a new individual record of 1500 from 1500, will be one of the shooters in action.

There's another vital round of Football Mid North Coast Premier League games on Saturday, where nine of the 10 clubs can still make the final five.

Taree heads to Port Macquarie to play Port Saints while Old Bar is also travelling north to play Port United and Wingham is on the road to play Kempsey Saints.

In the game of the round fourth placed Macleay Valley clash with competition leaders Wallis Lake, while Port FC meets third placed Camden Haven.

Manning Ratz coach Danial Stone fears his side is going through the mid-winter blues as they prepare to meet Gloucester at Gloucester on Saturday.

Stone made this observation when he had only a handful of players report to training earlier this week.

The Ratz are second on the ladder behind Forster-Tuncurry.

Forster plays Myall Coast on Saturday while Old Bar Clams and Wallamba meet in other fixtures.

Taree St Joseph's Primary School student Taye Cochrane is off to Eastern Creek on Friday to run in the State All Schools Cross Country Championship. Taye will run in the 10 years division.

Meanwhile, Peter Moody, trainer of the champion Black Caviar, will be the guest speaker at Taree-Wingham Race Club's cup launch dinner at the Winning Post Function Centre on Thursday, August 21.

The carnival starts Friday, August 22 with the Taree Gold Cup to be run on Sunday, August 24.